Workflow: Drafting a GP Letter After Orthopaedic Clinic

GP clinic letters from orthopaedic outpatient appointments need to clearly communicate the clinical assessment, the plan, and what is being asked of the GP. This workflow produces a structured, professional draft from your clinical bullet points.

1. Prepare your clinical bullet points before opening the tool

   Write down: the reason for the appointment, relevant history, examination findings, investigations reviewed or requested, your clinical impression, the management plan, and what — if anything — you are asking the GP to do. Having these ready before you open the tool makes the session faster and the output more specific.

2. Open the tool and set the letter format

   Open your AI tool and start a fresh conversation. Type: "You are helping an orthopaedic surgeon draft an outpatient clinic letter to a GP. I will provide clinical bullet points. Produce a professional letter with these headings: Reason for Attendance, Clinical Assessment, Investigations, Impression, Management Plan, Actions for GP. Use professional medical language. Do not include specific drug doses."

3. Provide your clinical bullet points

   Paste your notes. The tool will produce a structured draft letter.

4. Read the draft for clinical accuracy

   Read the letter as the GP will read it. Ask: Is the clinical impression accurate? Is the management plan clearly stated? Is the investigation request specific? Is there anything in the letter that could be misinterpreted by a clinician who was not in the room?

5. Check the Actions for GP section specifically

   This is the most important section for the GP. It needs to be explicit: is anything being requested, and if so, what and when? "Please see and manage" is not an action. "Please arrange an urgent MRI of the right knee and refer to our urgent clinic if the result shows a significant meniscal tear" is an action. Rewrite any GP action that is vague.

6. Add information only you can provide

   The tool cannot add: specific investigation values, your direct contact number, the date of the next appointment, or personalised clinical details that were not in your bullet points. Add these yourself after copying the draft into your clinical system.

7. Check the reading level for complex diagnoses

   For letters covering complex diagnoses — multi-level spinal degeneration, avascular necrosis, complex fracture patterns — check that the clinical language is appropriate for a non-specialist GP. The tool tends toward professional medical language, which is usually right. But if the letter would leave a GP without a clear understanding of what to do next, simplify the relevant sections.

What this means for you

A GP who receives a clear, complete clinic letter can continue the patient's care confidently. They do not need to chase you for clarification. They do not request investigations you have already arranged. They know what to do, when to do it, and when to refer back. That clarity comes from specificity — and an AI tool helps you achieve it faster without sacrificing the standard.

When not to use this workflow

For letters following complex operative or diagnostic discussions — particularly where the letter may become a medico-legal document — write the key clinical sections yourself. Use the tool for the structure if helpful, but ensure the clinical assessment and impression are written with particular care and reflect exactly what was said in the consultation.

Remember: AI is a helpful assistant, not a clinician. You make the call.